August 2007 Entries

Finally in Paris...the flight was actually a delight for once. No, I didn't have 1st class, but Delta has upgraded even the coach seating to have
touchscreen TV's with Movies and TV on demand.

Jeremiah also brought an extra ambian for me, so after watching "300", I was out like a light.

We got here about 9:00am this morning, picked up the keys to my apartment, took a shower, then headed straight to the office via the metro. We're still working, and trying to get out of here fairly quickly so we can join up
with a supplier about some tickets. Tomorrow, I have to be here fairly early, 8ish to get a head start on some things. I'll write more tomorrow about my adventures in Paris. Above is a picture from the window of my office overlooking
the most famous street in Europe, Avenue des Champs Elysees.
AB

August 24th

Today is the 1 year anniversary of AaronBulkley.com. 1 year of writing about my exploits and adventures, and now I have just over 200 loyal readers per day (according to the web trends average for the month).

I year of blogging looks like this in my web trends statistics:
Number of Pages visited: 150,571

I won't bore you with anymore stats...just thought some of this was kinda funny. I'm headed out to my bosses house tonight for a little end-of-summer party,
then to the lake tomorrow, dinner tomorrow night, packing all day Sunday, then off to Paris on Monday. See ya'll next week from across the pond!
AB

August 22nd

Man, an entire week has passed since I've stopped through here. And what a long week it has been. I hung out on Lake Amistad and down in Acuna, Mexico all last weekend...

and then flew out to Augusta, Georgia on Monday, back just yesterday. About 12 hours of driving
all together, and then about another 9 hours of flying. Well, here's a rundown of the highlights...

Thursday, Aug. 16th
Started off raining that morning...Hurricane Erin was coming in and supposed to nail Acuna head on. I drove the boat to Kerrville, picked up Hardy and Becky, and then
met Gary at Lake Amistad that afternoon. We got in some boarding and Wake Surfing, and saw zero rain. Hit up Acuna that night and packed it in early.
Friday, Aug. 17th
Slept til 9:00am (nice treat), then hit up the lake...found a new shallow spot up the Devils River which feeds into Lake Amistad. Great swimming hole. Joanie, Jason, Rebecca and Zach met up with us
at Corona Club around 10:30pm, and we partied til 3:30am.
Saturday, Aug. 18th
Hit up the lake around 1:00pm...just basically tried to recover from the night before...my body was hurting fairly bad at this point from all of the alcohol, sun, and mexican food. Drove back to Acuna around 6:00pm
and repeated the night before. Zach nearly got arrested and kicked out of Corona Club...thank you Augustine!
Sunday, Aug. 19th
Left Mexico at 10:30am...hit the house in Austin around 5:30pm. Packed, slept, and then woke up at 4:00am to catch a flight to Augusta.
Monday, Aug. 20th
Hit Augusta with my co-worker Caroline at noon. We had a court hearing for a zoning variance at our Augusta Masters house. The entire neighborhood showed up surprisingly to protest a deck that we had built
in front of the house. They compared our presence in the neighborhood (one block from Augusta National) to taking Jesus out of the schools. These people are crazy...really crazy. Their fearless leader/nut, Rick Murphy from Augusta,
preached to a zoning committee for about 8 minutes...he quoted the gospel no less than 10 times. I didn't know whether to cry, kick his ass, or laugh at him...all of this over a deck that brings up the value of their neighborhood 10-fold.

Next, Caroline and I were there to track down a client that owed us money, $6500, in which she charged back to her mother-in-laws credit card. We showed up to her work, and were informed that she was in jail for scamming people, including her husband, family,
fellow church members, etc, out of over $300,000 big ones. We visited her mother-in-law's house, and she wasn't there, so we decided that $6500 wasn't worth any more investigating for the day, and at this point wanted to get the hell out of town.
Tuesday, Aug. 21st
Got up at 3:00am to catch a flight out of the hell whole and back to Austin. Caught up with work most of the day, and played with my dog whom doesn't recognize me any longer...I leave for Paris in 5 days, so I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up either.
Today
My dog likes me again! I'm hitting the lake tomorrow afternoon if you're around. Then, Saturday night is my going away party...9:00pm at Sushi Sake, then the roof-top at SpeakEasy around 11:00pm. Come say Bye if you're around!
AB

August 15th

I am sick of work today. I'm really tired of Micro-Managers and their too big fucking egos. No, they're not my managers, but I still have to work with them and it sucks.

At least tomorrow, I'll be off for a few days, and heading down to Mexico with my boat. We still have a little room, so if you want to join us, give me a call.

I still have a really long day to get through today. I have to go to the Ski Dock later to rent/or buy a wakeboard and a new ski rope, then pick up my dog
from her orientation at Mud Puppies. I felt bad about leaving Luka in a vet kennel when I'm gone, so now I'm
springing for the fancy doggie day care. These dogs get absolutely spoiled: 4 walks per day, group playtimes with other dogs, "bunk time with Stuffed King Kong", clean bedding every day,
soothing music or TV, and tons of treats.

Anyways, after picking Luka up, I'm meeting Shane Hill at the boat lift to see what is wrong with my boat. He and some friends ran over the ski rope on Sunday and either bent the prop, or something worse.
Hopefully, it's just the prop, we can replace it, and I'll be on my way to Mexico with the boat tomorrow.

Then, I'm heading to the house to pack for tomorrow. I'm leaving the house around 8:30am to start my trip...I should be picking up Hardy and Becky in Kerrville around 1:00pm, then
on down to Rough Canyon Marina at Lake Amistad. We're staying in a mobile home that we rented tomorrow night...Gary Lux is meeting us. Then, pending weather, on the lake all day Friday drinking beer and wakeboarding.

I probably wont' be able to write until next week as I get back Sunday afternoon, then have to leave for Augusta, GA Monday morning to wrap up some work-stuff there. I'm staying the night in Augusta, then back on Tuesday afternoon next week finally.
I'll be in the states for another 6 days after that, then in Paris for the next 2 months. Whew...I'm already tired.
AB

August 13th

What a long weekend...Christophe arrived as planned on Friday. We went to dinner, then out on the town that evening, Fado and some other 4th Street bars. Saturday, we hit the lake, and partied in
the cove near 360 all day. JZ made up a bunch of shots, and there was a ton of beer flowing that day.

We got off the lake around 7:30, then headed out to Randy's house on the lake. Mia cooked up a feast
for us and we had a very nice steak dinner on their balcony over-looking Lake Travis. I passed out on their couch right after dinner, woke up at 2:00am, and drove everyone home.

Yesterday, I cleaned house for 2 hours, then prepared for JZ and Jenn's Diaper shower...we had a great time. There were about 10 of us: Michael Guerra, Ernest,
Joanie, Jason, Gary and Makenzie, Christophe, JZ, Jenn, Adam, and Austin. Christophe was the life of the party...he put on his "Mr. Napkin Show" which the kids loved.

Last night, Christophe, Joanie, Jason and myself went to Antone's to check out the Billy Bob Thorton concert...I was really looking forward to this show; this guy seems really cool (married to Angelina Jolie
at one time; awesome character in Bad Santa and the Bad News Bears). To be blunt though, what a disapointment. Billy Bob Thorton can't sing for shit! He sucks...it was like watching a bad train accident in slow motion.
We listened to maybe 5 or 6 songs, then ran out of there as fast as we could. The highlight of the show, was Billy Bob's monologues between songs, and even then, he wasn't very funny. In between verse's while singing, he would suck
down his cigarette in about 3 puffs, sing a little more, then suck down another one. About 45 minutes into the show, he and his band took a 20 minute break, and completely changed clothes...they went from
black suits and ties to grunge showing their rock-star tat's and scarves on their head. Then, in every song, one of his 4 guitar players attempted their 1980's solo jam, which was about the equivalent to me playing the guitar drunk at 5:00am.

I don't know if it's only because I'm from Austin, and I expect a good band when I go to the legendary Antone's, but these guys were an absolute Joke. If it wasn't for his name-sake, Billy Bob Thorton wouldn't sell a ticket to his show to the same person twice; and even
that won't get me to see that crap again. In summary, don't waste your $20 to see this guy in concert...spend it at the theatre when Bad Santa 2 comes to town.
AB

August 10th

So, I found another Aaron Bulkley...almost. Here is a picture of his grave stone at least. I don't think I want a grave when I go...I'd rather that my
family cremate me, and spread my ashes in the Guadalupe River in Hunt, TX.

Everyone just gather around, listen to "Far Behind" by Candlebox, and drink Keg Beer while
little particles of my body blow across the river for the fish to eat.

Speaking of death, we completed the 1st North/Central Austin Pub Run yesterday. I was the first to crash; down near town lake I was heading down a steep grassy hill
when my front tire found a big hole in the ground, and I proceeded to flip over my bike and tumble down a hill. I'm OK except for some minor ankle pain...I'm hobbling around the office today.

Jason Duggan went down about 10 minutes later...we were on Bull Creek where the bums all hang out near 15th street, when he didn't see a gate and slammed on his brakes just before hitting it...he also
flipped over the handle bars and landed right on his face pretty much. He had a little blood on him, and will probably be hurting more than the rest of us today. I'll be headed to Acuna next Thursday, so no
pub run next week...we will resume on the 23rd.

Joke of the Week
A mother was working in the kitchen listening to her 5-year-old son playing with his new
electric train in the living room. She heard the train stop and her son saying, "All of you sons of
bitches who want off, get the hell off now.. cause this is the last stop! And all of you sons of
bitches who are getting on, get your asses on the train...cause we're going down the tracks."

The horrified mother went in and told her son, "We don't use that kind of language in this house.
Now I want you to go to your room and you are to stay there for TWO HOURS. When you come out, you may
play with your train...but I want you to use nice language."

Two hours later, the boy came out of the bedroom and resumed playing with his train.
Soon the train stopped and the mother heard her son say... "All passengers, please remember your things,
thank you and hope your trip was a pleasant one. We hope you will ride with us again soon."

She heard her little darling continue..."For those of you just boarding,
remember there is no smoking in the train. We hope you will have a
pleasant and relaxing journey with us today."

As the mother began to smile, the child added, "For those of you who are
pissed off about the TWO HOUR delay, please see the bitch in the kitchen."
AB

August 9th

Tonight, I'm starting my own "Thursday Night Pub Run" on bikes. It's going to be small for the inaugural ride, but will get bigger when everyone finds out
how much fun it is. We're going to begin at my place, near Dallas Night Club, then head down Shoal Creek to the Draught House for our first beer.

Tomorrow, Christophe is coming to town from Paris to bring me 300 Rugby World Cup Finals tickets...we'll probably go out downtown with Jenna and Taryne tomorrow night. Maybe Fado's or something. He'll be here
until Monday afternoon, so I'm sure I'll be exhausted come that time.
AB

August 7th

It's going to be a busy week, and a really fun weekend. I'm slammed with International and Rugby deals at work right now...I can't wait to get to Paris at the end of the month.

I'm not really a huge fan of Paris, but it is Europe, and it is the Rugby World Cup.

We have an action packed weekend though. I'm going out with Taryne and Jenna on Friday night, then about 13 of us are hitting the lake on Saturday.
Vodka Strawberry and Apple Pie shots will be flying...I'm sure I'll be cleaning whipped cream up for a week or so.

On Sunday, I'm hosting a Beer and Diaper show for Jimmie and Jennifer. She is due in about a month. Then, next week, I'm off to Lake Amistad and Acuna from Thursday to Sunday. The day after that, in Augusta, GA. So,
I don't have much free time in the coming weeks before I split for Europe.

We still have room for about 3 people on the Lake Amistad and Acuna trip...let me know if you want in with us.
AB

August 3rd

Time for another Funny Picture Day!

So, in about 1 hour, I'm heading to Kerrville to pick up my travel trailer...I can't wait to get out of here for the weekend.
I should hit Hunt about 7:30, load up the trailer, and then head out to the Hunting Lease in Richland Springs.

Joanie and I are taking the dogs, a bunch of guns, and turning off the cell phones for the weekend.

Tomorrow, I'm gonna throw on some camo, and maybe go sit in a deer blind to see what I get to shoot at this fall.
Don't get me wrong, I don't just hunt for the sport of it, I am the biggest fan of eating what you kill...love venison and wild hog meat, especially the hog ribs.

We will probably stay out there Saturday night, then head back to civilization on Sunday morning so we can hit the Lake. I need a tan badly...haven't put on a swimsuit in over a month due to all of the rain.

Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August.
It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will culminate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes
within 34.65M miles of earth. Be sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am . It will look like the earth has
2 moons. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.

And guess where I'll be during this time, 12:30am on August 27th? On a plane to Paris...What luck...maybe I'll have a nice view from
the window. Anyone know which side of the plane I need to request if I'm heading East across the Atlantic?
AB

August 1st

A new month...last one in Texas for while as well. At the end of the month, I'll be heading for Paris for 2 months. For today though, we're going on day 3 of no rain in Austin, TX...
I don't think you can really appreciate that unless you live here...it's been a monsoon here all summer. I haven't been on the lake in over a month.

Anyway, Gary Lux and I are about to hit up Pease Park for some disc golfing. It's about 95 degrees outside, so we'll work up a good sweat at least. I rode about 20 miles yesterday
on my mountain bike with Zach Mills...Monday, I rode about 14 miles, so at least ya'll know I'm serious about this getting in shape, and partying less philosophy that I'm working on adopting.
AB